Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin Compared (2026)
Three drugstore creams for dry and sensitive skin, compared on what each brand publishes. We have not tested them.
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All three are fragrance-free creams with ingredients AAD lists for dry skin, such as petrolatum, glycerin or dimethicone. CeraVe adds ceramides, Vanicream keeps the list short, and Cetaphil targets very dry skin.
Quick picks
- Best with ceramidesMoisturizing CreamCheck price
- Shortest ingredient listMoisturizing CreamCheck price
- Best for very dry skinMoisturizing CreamCheck price
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | Top pickCeraVeMoisturizing Cream | VanicreamMoisturizing Cream | CetaphilMoisturizing Cream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Dry skin that wants ceramides | A short ingredient list for sensitive skin | Very dry skin |
| Skin type | Normal to dry | Sensitive; all ages | Dry to very dry, sensitive |
| Key ingredients | 3 ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum | Petrolatum, sorbitol (no ceramides, per Vanicream) | Glycerin, petrolatum, niacinamide, panthenol, sweet almond oil |
| Fragrance | Fragrance-free (per CeraVe) | None in the listed ingredients; no botanicals or essential oils | Fragrance-free (per Cetaphil) |
| Non-comedogenic | Yes | Yes | Yes (won't clog pores, per Cetaphil) |
| NEA Seal | Yes | Yes | Accepted by the NEA (per Cetaphil) |
| Use | Face and body, ages 3+ | Face, hands, feet and body | Face and body |
| Price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Specs from each manufacturer's US product page. Bars compare each spec against the best value in this table; they are not test scores. Prices change often, so we link out instead of quoting them.
The picks
★Best with ceramides
CeraVeMoisturizing Cream
Best for: Dry skin that wants ceramides
A rich face and body cream with three ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and petrolatum, for normal to dry skin, ages 3 and up.
What we like
- Ceramides plus petrolatum
- NEA Seal of Acceptance
Watch out for
- Rich texture may feel heavy on oily skin
CeraVe lists three ceramides, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and petrolatum, and the NEA Seal. It is labeled for ages 3 and up.
★Shortest ingredient list
VanicreamMoisturizing Cream
Best for: A short ingredient list for sensitive skin
A petrolatum-based cream with a short ingredient list, no botanical extracts or essential oils, and the NEA Seal. Vanicream says it has no ceramides.
What we like
- Very short ingredient list
- Gluten-free
Watch out for
- No ceramides
Vanicream lists about ten ingredients led by water and petrolatum, with no botanicals or essential oils. It says the cream has no ceramides.
★Best for very dry skin
CetaphilMoisturizing Cream
Best for: Very dry skin
A rich cream for dry to very dry sensitive skin with glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol and sweet almond oil. Cetaphil cites 48-hour hydration from its own clinical data.
What we like
- Niacinamide and panthenol
- Made for very dry skin
Watch out for
- Contains sweet almond oil, a nut-derived oil
Cetaphil lists glycerin, petrolatum, niacinamide, panthenol and sweet almond oil, for dry to very dry skin. Its 48-hour claim is from Cetaphil’s own data.
How to choose
- Pick fragrance-free. AAD says “unscented” products can still contain masking chemicals.
- Apply on damp skin. See our dry skin tips.
- Pair with a gentle cleanser. See best gentle face cleansers.
Frequently asked questions
Cream or lotion for dry skin?
AAD says ointments and creams add more moisture than lotions. All three picks here are creams.
Which one has ceramides?
CeraVe lists three ceramides. Vanicream says its cream has none. Cetaphil leans on glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol.
